UK soccer boss banned for jabs at Jews and Chinese

The English Football Association on Wednesday banned Wigan chairman Dave Whelan from all football-related activities for six weeks over offensive comments about Jews and Chinese people.

The 78-year-old Whelan, who accepted a charge of racially aggravated misconduct, was also fined 50,000 pounds ($78,000), warned about his future conduct and ordered to undertake a mandatory education course.

Whelan has seven days to accept or appeal against the sanction, which would be suspended until after the outcome of an appeal process. The ban would begin immediately if he decides to accept the punishment.

The offensive comments were made in a newspaper interview defending his decision to appoint Malky Mackay as manager in November.

Mackay himself is still being investigated by the FA over alleged racist and anti-Semitic text messages sent while Cardiff manager.

Referring to remarks allegedly made by Mackay, Whelan was quoted as saying it was “nothing” to call a Chinese person a “chink” and also said: “Jewish people do chase money more than everybody else.”

He subsequently apologized for any offence caused and declared that he was not a racist. He vowed that he would “immediately resign” as chairman of second-tier Wigan if found guilty by the FA.